THANKFUL FOR HOME~ COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyQTK_IhH65cBI_cKR7ZF5i_p0NMhjhK20U-pdyCgPCYEfREA0GWsXEE2Hr_9wWJt4ltpq6qGtCgCZQaIgGR6lCfEmlpLgpIQKWPXhSVqDDy7LBXJXEVFDRcuFOQEHoHQg9gfvmL1ASgK/s1600/BLOG+Thankful+for+Home-Title+Page-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyQTK_IhH65cBI_cKR7ZF5i_p0NMhjhK20U-pdyCgPCYEfREA0GWsXEE2Hr_9wWJt4ltpq6qGtCgCZQaIgGR6lCfEmlpLgpIQKWPXhSVqDDy7LBXJXEVFDRcuFOQEHoHQg9gfvmL1ASgK/s640/BLOG+Thankful+for+Home-Title+Page-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />I have a special place in my heart for Thanksgiving!  I love the season, the food, the family and friends, the reason for celebrating and the preparation!<br /><br />I also love our family traditions that have formed around this All-American holiday!<br /><br />Traditions are a way of passing along our beliefs.... or customs... our ways.  They help us to belong and connect. They are a beautiful thread that stitches the heart and minds of one generation to the next.<br /><br /><br />We are folks that love and celebrate tradition, especially around the holidays...<br /><br /><a name="more"></a><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAdfHyv-DVv-QoyaidOqIqG_JBIMc_9cSLRoxAR7J0if_gPW-__IZxu2xINlY43IxOuVQ8gNoimE1kRh5ZqzCT9mg_mwQCr2cIai8YqhOyjt5IB79wkRU_UhwotzIwgiygLC0C1uyIyk_/s1600/Thanksgiving+table-side+shot-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAdfHyv-DVv-QoyaidOqIqG_JBIMc_9cSLRoxAR7J0if_gPW-__IZxu2xINlY43IxOuVQ8gNoimE1kRh5ZqzCT9mg_mwQCr2cIai8YqhOyjt5IB79wkRU_UhwotzIwgiygLC0C1uyIyk_/s640/Thanksgiving+table-side+shot-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Thanksgiving means family. Yes, it may mean football and parades and big balloons that look like funny cartoon characters, and the kick-off of the Christmas season, and shopping... but it means so much more to our family!<br /><br />We have well developed traditions around Thanksgiving.<br /><br /><br />Aptly named, it is a time for giving thanks to God. He is the source of all blessings and goodness and Thanksgiving is a celebration of His goodness and mercy to our family.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KchPlQ4h458NA_umYpXD61tc4TtvhwzsokTb_CxnGZ9q5QNQDqN5_-mAtWsKytVRyzbHX9D5FboQYE_cGrt39RAs3KkBwduT_QGr1FPkHV1i00oodKYl6VN3BDB9DM6_ZlMcuElmruGG/s1600/two+Thanksgiving+place+settings-stonegableblog.com,.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KchPlQ4h458NA_umYpXD61tc4TtvhwzsokTb_CxnGZ9q5QNQDqN5_-mAtWsKytVRyzbHX9D5FboQYE_cGrt39RAs3KkBwduT_QGr1FPkHV1i00oodKYl6VN3BDB9DM6_ZlMcuElmruGG/s640/two+Thanksgiving+place+settings-stonegableblog.com,.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />What is a holiday without food? And this is probably the biggest meal of the year!  We eat the exact same thing every year. Everyone has their favorites!   Mine is stuffing with gravy! Just the thought of it makes my mouth water! YUMMY!<br /><br />Everyone in our family gets involved... even the men. It takes a village to put on a Thanksgiving feast!<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm famous for my turkey. I started making it as a young wife and over the years have perfected the technique.<br /><br />I'll be sharing all my turkey making secrets with you next week.<br /><br />Does the aroma coming from a kitchen smell the absolute best on Thanksgiving day?  It's not just the turkey, but the love that goes into making it!<br /><br /><br />We are not eat-and-run people. We like to linger! We take breaks, we talk, we play table games. Then we clean up the main meal and later that evening we have a dessert buffet!<br /><br />Thanksgiving  is an all afternoon into evening event at StoneGable.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7uvYY12HMd7jq1GvNECBE1ZWr3XZjDwjfQfLqKnZOv1w02QKNXuN56TnpXMgcmxeVx4W6GY7SgmjW0WT4A97AMeN_cYtUaU0iRuemncJYNiS2DA0_5TqxjzYCJ3Qy5GMFqoFNkYDd_fQ/s1600/Thanksgiving+table-top+view-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7uvYY12HMd7jq1GvNECBE1ZWr3XZjDwjfQfLqKnZOv1w02QKNXuN56TnpXMgcmxeVx4W6GY7SgmjW0WT4A97AMeN_cYtUaU0iRuemncJYNiS2DA0_5TqxjzYCJ3Qy5GMFqoFNkYDd_fQ/s640/Thanksgiving+table-top+view-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />At dinnertime every year someone reads the Thanksgiving story. It's good to hear the old tale! When the children were little they would dress up in costumes and as we read they would act it out in a play.<br /><br />Each year as we gather we find a creative way to go around the table and tell everyone what we are thankful for that year.<br /><br />My favorite way to do this is using 5 kernels of corn.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3KBPtJ0Yw5hRAapIYCZ-iU7YTh78ZQAeL321x4bF7sNl_eyM7PQtcVgk5_DKSOA8QpOFOaEcPy9uX0ZN99hsA4qGGNjo0hiGgXF1y3yGCVQBq9RudqiXnfsVyfs-vpDbn09RqEr45MEr/s1600/Five+kernels+of+corn-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3KBPtJ0Yw5hRAapIYCZ-iU7YTh78ZQAeL321x4bF7sNl_eyM7PQtcVgk5_DKSOA8QpOFOaEcPy9uX0ZN99hsA4qGGNjo0hiGgXF1y3yGCVQBq9RudqiXnfsVyfs-vpDbn09RqEr45MEr/s640/Five+kernels+of+corn-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />It is a tangible way to literally count our blessings!<br /><br />I've heard many versions of the  <span style="font-size: large;">5 KERNELS OF CORN</span> story, but here is how we tell it...<br /><br /><br /><i>On Nov. 11, 1620 the Mayflower landed on the Northern tip of Cape Cod bringing a group of people searching for religious freedom. We call them the Pilgrims.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It was not easy to settle in a new place... a new world. It was very hard and the Pilgrims suffered greatly.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>Winter set in and it was cold and food was in short supply.</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>It is said that during the cold and harsh winter of 1621, that sometimes only 5 kernels of corn were rationed out to eat.</i><br /><i><br />No matter how small something is... if we see it as a blessing, that's huge!</i><br /><br /> Five kernels of corn are put at each person's place to remind them to count their blessings, even if they are very small!<br /><br />Taking turns, we go around the table and tell everyone 5 things we are thankful for.<br /><br />We usually have some very loud laughs and some sentimental tears as well. But most of all we have a whole lot of head's nodding in blessing agreement as the warm presence of God fills us and the room!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4BSW6JgPKRYau5kyER91mqvpNhCcO-f4fDSkFt569FP51xuu9SLKk3dQNru5XfC2FbUuQA7uYR3BCLBR20WErJOyQnLG3-29uggnkznrUFXsfDVNmixNEOcRq5AlW3kGJrjlJiZUH4zp/s1600/Thanksgiving-centerpiece-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4BSW6JgPKRYau5kyER91mqvpNhCcO-f4fDSkFt569FP51xuu9SLKk3dQNru5XfC2FbUuQA7uYR3BCLBR20WErJOyQnLG3-29uggnkznrUFXsfDVNmixNEOcRq5AlW3kGJrjlJiZUH4zp/s640/Thanksgiving-centerpiece-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />In recent years, we have made it important to ask my mother questions about her childhood and growing up years. I want my children to know about my mom and how she grew up. I want them to hear about my wonderful grandmother and my father who have gone to be with the Lord.<br /><br />We listen to stories of Thanksgivings long ago and the way things were done. My mother tell stories in glorious and vivid detail, filled with color and animation.<br /><br />This year I'm recording the stories!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qWbONzCD7ZoSrOd-OStHKlbm12lLVAoaF2pAqKZ5g52TuCusrwucnfwTAmnHLVKKdftaL3yn8EH0-zvV4BIH6oDWdplGedIwnhR7Cb0oRmEt5UguZIzc10CdAgW6cfB_WeRdLiTNY_Vy/s1600/Thanksgiving-centerpiece-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qWbONzCD7ZoSrOd-OStHKlbm12lLVAoaF2pAqKZ5g52TuCusrwucnfwTAmnHLVKKdftaL3yn8EH0-zvV4BIH6oDWdplGedIwnhR7Cb0oRmEt5UguZIzc10CdAgW6cfB_WeRdLiTNY_Vy/s640/Thanksgiving-centerpiece-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />One last favorite Thanksgiving tradition of mine is to wake up Friday morning, when all the hustle and bustle is over and all the boys in the family go for a long walk with the dogs, and eat Thanksgiving leftovers in my pj's with the all girls in my family.<br /><br />We are all exhausted and really not hungry, but we all still gather to have leftovers! ABSOLUTELY no frills! Piled on plates and microwaved! And  we only eat what we want.<br /><br />That usually looks like a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy with a big scoop of stuffing on the top for me...  with some canned cranberry jelly. NO JUDGING!! And the only veggie that night cross my lips is a little green bean casserole! All to be washed down with coffee and a slice of pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream.<br /><br />We read magazines and chat and laugh and eat and stay in our jammies until almost noon! It's a girl thing and we all love it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeiCyin6nzzPYaExw_mXNin7DkTuYV3MW_uQ4JcrushWhpEy2ZD3uB2mRwtpwvLKQiDHWB8AhHNgur8qAMNzn5ZxaIU9pIXcZQDVhb-Iz2t0xsS7f3JBuRYu_5d_A57Vk8Cq7KgmoMepP/s1600/bird+nest+in+centerpiece-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeiCyin6nzzPYaExw_mXNin7DkTuYV3MW_uQ4JcrushWhpEy2ZD3uB2mRwtpwvLKQiDHWB8AhHNgur8qAMNzn5ZxaIU9pIXcZQDVhb-Iz2t0xsS7f3JBuRYu_5d_A57Vk8Cq7KgmoMepP/s640/bird+nest+in+centerpiece-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br />I hope your Thanksgiving traditions run deeply and richly through your family and those lucky enough to be at your table this year!<br /><br />And may you always be able to count your blessing... large and small!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BenMS6r3617fanWgyHmawrDZAmoyz8cGHvW9QiFs88TtFcSAz0HTA1N_ZeB_tJGWRSYpj0egfhRVpauUpbPR__Oe0yYPqGfpDR0G6iEJVlyJK0Vis80-HGdUwOn0-AAo2XLK5YDvUwBP/s1600/Thanksgiving+table+with+5+corn+kernels-stonegableblog.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2BenMS6r3617fanWgyHmawrDZAmoyz8cGHvW9QiFs88TtFcSAz0HTA1N_ZeB_tJGWRSYpj0egfhRVpauUpbPR__Oe0yYPqGfpDR0G6iEJVlyJK0Vis80-HGdUwOn0-AAo2XLK5YDvUwBP/s640/Thanksgiving+table+with+5+corn+kernels-stonegableblog.com.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am so thrilled to be participating in<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">THANKFUL FOR HOME TOUR</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>with 24 other wonderful bloggers!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu0sHwRXectxHgiRqEQup0Pum7Hs_YKAsZNBm0ydC74SzZUkpISHpXPUEWbpFnA54p3TeB71aqovRDdFW0SUX16WSPL4iUXPHEw0q-LwpMYDfrJkaYwEYOoj0OgwMYes_-y5LxYsqvZRC/s1600/1383906_10151866049451551_2008294790_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvu0sHwRXectxHgiRqEQup0Pum7Hs_YKAsZNBm0ydC74SzZUkpISHpXPUEWbpFnA54p3TeB71aqovRDdFW0SUX16WSPL4iUXPHEw0q-LwpMYDfrJkaYwEYOoj0OgwMYes_-y5LxYsqvZRC/s320/1383906_10151866049451551_2008294790_n.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Make sure to visit these creative bloggers and be inspired!<br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Monday:</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/" target="_blank">Savvy Southern Style</a><br /><a href="http://findinghomeonline.com/" target="_blank">Finding Home</a><br /><a href="http://www.lilacsandlonghorns.com/" target="_blank">Lilacs & Longhorns</a><br /><a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/" target="_blank">The Inspired Room</a><br /><a href="http://www.thecrafty-woman.com/" target="_blank">The Crafty Woman</a><br /><b><br /></b> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tuesday:</b> </span><br /><a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/" target="_blank">Stone Gable</a><br /><a href="http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/" target="_blank">Debbiedoos</a><br /><a href="http://meeganmakes.com/" target="_blank">What Meegan Make</a><br /><a href="http://meeganmakes.com/" target="_blank">s</a><a href="http://www.maisondepax.com/" target="_blank">Maison de Pax</a><br /><a href="http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Confessions of a Plate Addic</a><br /><b><br /></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday:</span></b><br /><a href="http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/" target="_blank">Thistlewood Farm</a><br /><a href="http://eclecticallyvintage.com/" target="_blank">Eclectically Vintage</a><br /><a href="http://mysoulfulhome.com/" target="_blank">My Soulful Home</a><br /><a href="http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/" target="_blank">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a><br /><a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/" target="_blank">Southern Hospitality</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">  <strong>Thursday:</strong></span><br /><a href="http://www.thelilypadcottage.com/" target="_blank">The Lilypad Cottage</a><br /><a href="http://alittleclaireification.com/" target="_blank">A Little Claireification</a><br /><a href="http://freshideastudio.com/" target="_blank">Fresh Idea Studio</a><br /><a href="http://pennywiseblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennywise</a><br /><a href="http://www.therusticpig.com/" target="_blank">The Rustic Pig</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">  <strong>Friday:</strong> </span><br /><a href="http://www.housepitalitydesigns.com/" target="_blank">Housepitality Designs</a><br /><a href="http://www.mom4real.com/" target="_blank">Mom4Real</a><br /><a href="http://countrydesignstyle.com/" target="_blank">Country Design Style</a><br /><a href="http://www.everydayhomeblog.com/" target="_blank">The Everyday Home</a><br /><a href="http://unskinnyboppy.com/" target="_blank">Unskinny Boppy</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />REMEMBER TO<br /><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://www.clickinmoms.com/cmprodaily/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/pinit.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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THANKFUL FOR HOME~ COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

I have a special place in my heart for Thanksgiving!  I love the season, the food, the family and friends, the reason for celebrating and th...

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A POST FROM MY DAUGHTER

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8zhEZzwzPl0-FpgWgr8ttnD693eo-3-3Lgb_dERWe85jEE8hDmYzs5CPPoK7tK0u2i0IzUnFXKyQ_otaYhkUmwMfbOkz2iER5mBNhyphenhyphentSCdZVVjRTcCis5RXGohhJcNBV4dIsCqczU6Pq/s1600/A+Post+From+My+Daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8zhEZzwzPl0-FpgWgr8ttnD693eo-3-3Lgb_dERWe85jEE8hDmYzs5CPPoK7tK0u2i0IzUnFXKyQ_otaYhkUmwMfbOkz2iER5mBNhyphenhyphentSCdZVVjRTcCis5RXGohhJcNBV4dIsCqczU6Pq/s640/A+Post+From+My+Daughter.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello, friends!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is my daughter Jacqueline. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As part of BIO... BY INVITATION ONLY...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">a group of international bloggers are given a prompt each month to blog about.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This month we were to ask someone else to write our monthly post!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I chose my sweet daughter! I started blogging because of her (you can read about it <a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/09/how-i-began-blogging.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>) so I thought it only natural to let HER say a few words to my readers...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div><a name="more"></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><img alt="International Blog Party" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DKysk_hTwhSOS63BkOD7Vr8hw-eNwdnCi-QE-9MXp3QZQNj0aO8cbSYmcQYlH_BFTkUu_nahW5tInY_sK77Cw1kpavvp3720brGjotfOHKdimv_lN0XLZwkT8o5ymF76ncu3l-_ujLs/s200/By+Invitation+Only+SMALL+ICON.png" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband and I moved to Washington, DC six years ago. In 2009, we bought our very first home in a quaint, community-esque neighborhood of the city. When friends would visit our house for the first time, I used to describe it by saying, “It’s the first house with the front porch.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">More recently, I have directed newcomers by stating, “It’s the technicolor row home.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our home is multicolored as a result of my indecisiveness. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are giving the exterior of our almost 100 year old home a face lift, and I am on the hunt for the perfect exterior gray… not a blue gray, not a green gray, definitely not any gray with purple undertones, not too beige of a gray… a perfect, inviting, and purely gray... gray. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Admittedly, I have a problem choosing colors.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> My husband wishes there was a support group for color indecisiveness as selecting an exterior color is not my first offense. My dear hubby has painted the downstairs of our home 1, 2, 3… no, 4 times. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Upon moving into our 1920s house, the walls were white, adorned with hand smudges, dirt smears, and nearly 100 years of grim. I wanted a warm color for the entertaining space so I picked Benjamin Moore's Philadelphia Cream, mimicking the color in my mom’s study. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jonathan painted the living room, dining room, and kitchen this color. Then, with love and a meticulous hand, he painted stripes of Philadelphia Cream and a complimentary color in our foyer and up the stairs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I lived blissfully in my cream home until, inspired by my mom’s move towards a fresh, white look, I wanted to repaint the space. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I sampled colors on the wall, looking for a warm white for the first floor. I chose Ballet White. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband painted the whole downstairs Ballet White while I was out of the house.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> During our years of home ownership, he has learned that it is easier to paint in my absence as I am not a detail oriented painter, dripping and splashing as I go... and I can be a bit of a micro manager as he strokes the color on the wall. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When I returned home and saw Ballet White on every wall, water works ensued. Ballet White, as the name probably indicated, looked pink! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although pink is my favorite color, it was not the warm white I wanted for our downstairs. My compassionate and patient husband, repainted the walls two more times- China White, which turned out to be too stark of a white, and finally Fossil, still not the perfect white but asking him to repaint a fifth time is currently no<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=927889236153598968" name="_GoBack"></a>t an option.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With awareness of my color picking disorder (I have heard acknowledging the problem is the first step), I began reflecting on the root cause of my color condition. And I have made a self-diagnosis… MY MOTHER!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I loved growing up at StoneGable and reaped all the benefits of my mom’s cooking, hospitality, encouragement, wisdom, and love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I hoped by imitating my mom’s decorating choices, I could infuse my home with the warmth that StoneGable possesses.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Growing up our home was the place where family congregated on holidays, the house where friends would have sleepovers, and a place where those in need of a temporary home could stay. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The house had a comfortable business... and a delicious meal and deep conversations were always served at the table. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With Philadelphia Cream on my walls, I hoped to recreate my mom’s warm and generous spirit. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, strongly imprinted on my memory is the freshness of StoneGable. Curling up in line-dried sheets, spring buds blooming in the garden, and changing seasonal decorations are still a few of my favorite things.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I especially love my mom’s self-taught, adventurous attitude when it comes to home life. Nothing seems impossible for the Wonder Woman of the house.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> She is constantly acquiring new skills to refresh her home and cooking. Whether it’s making croquembouche for the first time and building a 10 foot tower of sugar glued cream puffs, trying her hand at reupholstering chairs (so hysterical… read this <a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/04/one-painted-and-reupholstered-dining.html" target="_blank">BLOG POST</a>), or learning to paint furniture, my mom is invincible! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">She learns, tries, and masters new homemaking talents that keep StoneGable fresh. With newly painted white walls, I hoped to invigorate my home with the same freshness of StoneGable. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that no paint color alone can communicate the essences of StoneGable. It’s not about my mom's cooking, decorating, or homemaking, rather our home is inviting because of my mom’s s selfless love for others and her faith. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am constantly learning from her example (and her blog) the attributes that makes StoneGable a home to all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Thank you, Jacqueline. </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I have been crying buckets since reading your post! I'm so blessed that your memories of home are so special and happy!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Just remember, this is still your home and Jonathan's too... It always will be!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About the author and her husband...</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/72_541968179354_2800_n.jpg" width="398" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jacquie and Jonathan met at Penn State </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YahGmmaiVnjQFu2AvMZjWHLlJFFFS3wUbUz-dWWuLvrqCE2WEzigD9T6nt3908aw9ZPrOb82UWkxy0McEpF-mtdiJmS6txST5zgKS1ff_csxMSBKoujBpn1aTIzYtercpi2a6yzrwyeu/s1600/IMG_1897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YahGmmaiVnjQFu2AvMZjWHLlJFFFS3wUbUz-dWWuLvrqCE2WEzigD9T6nt3908aw9ZPrOb82UWkxy0McEpF-mtdiJmS6txST5zgKS1ff_csxMSBKoujBpn1aTIzYtercpi2a6yzrwyeu/s400/IMG_1897.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Married the year after graduation</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/25086_700922718648_750088_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/25086_700922718648_750088_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And now live and work in Washington, DC</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite their very busy lives they come home to StoneGable often!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A big thanks to Marsha at<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://splenderosa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SPLENDEROSA</a></span> for  hosting</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">BY INVITATION ONLY.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Head over to <a href="http://splenderosa.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">SPLENDEROSA</span></a> to visit all the other participating blogs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="International Blog Party" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DKysk_hTwhSOS63BkOD7Vr8hw-eNwdnCi-QE-9MXp3QZQNj0aO8cbSYmcQYlH_BFTkUu_nahW5tInY_sK77Cw1kpavvp3720brGjotfOHKdimv_lN0XLZwkT8o5ymF76ncu3l-_ujLs/s320/By+Invitation+Only+SMALL+ICON.png" width="296" /><br /><br /><br />Today kicks off a very special Thanksgiving event that will run until Friday...<br /><br />The<br /><br />THANKFUL FOR HOME TOUR<br /><br />Join these great blogs and see the inspiring ways they are thankful!<br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Monday:</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/" target="_blank">Savvy Southern Style</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://findinghomeonline.com/" target="_blank">Finding Hom</a>e</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.lilacsandlonghorns.com/" target="_blank">Lilacs & Longhorns</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://theinspiredroom.net/" target="_blank">The Inspired Room</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thecrafty-woman.com/" target="_blank">The Crafty Woman</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">  <b>Tuesday:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stonegableblog.com/" target="_blank">Stone Gable</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://debbie-debbiedoos.com/" target="_blank">Debbiedoos</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://meeganmakes.com/" target="_blank">What Meegan Makes</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.maisondepax.com/" target="_blank">Maison de Pax</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Confessions of a Plate Addict</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">  <b>Wednesday:</b> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/" target="_blank">Thistlewood Farm</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://eclecticallyvintage.com/" target="_blank">Eclectically Vintage</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mysoulfulhome.com/" target="_blank">My Soulful Home</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/" target="_blank">Cedar Hill Farmhouse</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/" target="_blank">Southern Hospitality</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Thursday:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thelilypadcottage.com/" target="_blank">The Lilypad Cottage</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://alittleclaireification.com/" target="_blank">A Little Claireification</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://freshideastudio.com/" target="_blank">Fresh Idea Studio</a><a href="http://pennywiseblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Pennywise</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.therusticpig.com/" target="_blank">The Rustic Pig</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br /></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Friday:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housepitalitydesigns.com/" target="_blank">Housepitality Design</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housepitalitydesigns.com/" target="_blank">s</a><a href="http://www.mom4real.com/" target="_blank">Mom4Real</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://countrydesignstyle.com/" target="_blank">Country Design Style</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.everydayhomeblog.com/" target="_blank">The Everyday Home</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://unskinnyboppy.com/" target="_blank">Unskinny Boppy</a></div></div>

A POST FROM MY DAUGHTER

Hello, friends! This is my daughter Jacqueline.  As part of BIO... BY INVITATION ONLY... a group of international bloggers are given a promp...

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Organized Shoes

<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Over the last year or so, I've been slowly editing the contents of <a href="http://bit.ly/1aVo2C1">my closet</a> and rearranging things.  I've gotten rid of clothes I never wear and items that no longer fit.  It always helps me to let go of things when I know I'm giving them to someone who will get more use out of them.  And now that our weather has changed to cooler temps, it was the perfect time to take a good Fall inventory.  My goal is to be able to walk into my closet and have only options in there that I know I will wear and feel good in. No scratchy sweaters or too-tight jeans.  No closet-full of "nothing to wear"! And now I can find out what I'm "missing", like a good well-fitting 3/4 length coat and a <a href="http://bit.ly/HEhSLs">faux leopard fur vest</a>! I'm also working on organizing everything in a way that makes sense and is easy to upkeep.  </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">To freshen things up in my closet, I painted </span><a href="http://bit.ly/1bQl7Zw" style="font-size: x-large;">the island</a><span style="font-size: large;"> a very light high gloss pink (a color so pale it was barely discernible in photos) almost exactly a year ago.  After living with it for some time, it really grew on me and I had left over paint, so I painted the inside shoe shelves in the same color, mainly to cover all the scuff marks inside.  I'm hoping the glossy paint will prevent against scuffs in the future and be easier to wipe clean.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbSIDX6fLR7CCStTjr2seK3DzHEjJ_lTGklaeOabiQOTrTinaiLK-QYTO22QMgwq30T5CLJPNPicW6RhSNK432WRaxQahyAyP1KC7K_-WOjDcv0d11v0zaj4vWEn2BuqvkW575d_xlAHC/s1600/Honey+We're+Home+Organized+Shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlbSIDX6fLR7CCStTjr2seK3DzHEjJ_lTGklaeOabiQOTrTinaiLK-QYTO22QMgwq30T5CLJPNPicW6RhSNK432WRaxQahyAyP1KC7K_-WOjDcv0d11v0zaj4vWEn2BuqvkW575d_xlAHC/s1600/Honey+We're+Home+Organized+Shoes.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The pink paint is <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif; line-height: 20px;">Sherwin Williams Venus Pink, acrylic, high gloss.  See how light it is? </span></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEGkF76pryGkOdPQbPQdJVzqekk5M_F9kLvtBXUdWzZEenXqNhQWpKwrmMTw4NaY82s4gzDhmXWxwuBrOGVHOKBh4Ipog5zxikBLBpYXNoQNLbzTOPr4__dN9iF0tuaoznsHZypi80oaT/s1600/Honey+We're+Home+Organized+Shoe+Closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEGkF76pryGkOdPQbPQdJVzqekk5M_F9kLvtBXUdWzZEenXqNhQWpKwrmMTw4NaY82s4gzDhmXWxwuBrOGVHOKBh4Ipog5zxikBLBpYXNoQNLbzTOPr4__dN9iF0tuaoznsHZypi80oaT/s1600/Honey+We're+Home+Organized+Shoe+Closet.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH5iGbgopWjgmb9qSsoPH1VWwDTdX5NtCQNnitmEieVZpNjTXHOGdLMPw13LaVIEhLE4WuL3LOZ24YLh0mZfqUavsOkgzas5nND4xhEhz_PIcE2DIeagWIo-EuRaCvuu82EchKlF5G1-y/s1600/Honey+We're+Home+Organized+Shoes.101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH5iGbgopWjgmb9qSsoPH1VWwDTdX5NtCQNnitmEieVZpNjTXHOGdLMPw13LaVIEhLE4WuL3LOZ24YLh0mZfqUavsOkgzas5nND4xhEhz_PIcE2DIeagWIo-EuRaCvuu82EchKlF5G1-y/s1600/Honey+We're+Home+Organized+Shoes.101.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Having lived with teeny-tiny closets the majority of my life, I really appreciate having more space to store my shoes.  When I designed my closet, I counted how many pairs of shoes I had and it was about 40, so I made sure this shoe shelf could hold about 50 pairs, thinking I don't need to own more than 50 pairs of shoes.    Have you ever counted yours?  Care to share your "number"?  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">When we were living in our townhouse I used something like this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PI97CY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000PI97CY&linkCode=as2&tag=howereho-20">expandable shoe rack</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=howereho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000PI97CY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> on the bottom of my closet and it worked pretty well.  I put two side by side and they were sturdy enough that my shoes weren't falling down.  A girlfriend of mine has one of these o<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002F92P4S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002F92P4S&linkCode=as2&tag=howereho-20">ver-the-door shoe racks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=howereho-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B002F92P4S" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and she loves it.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Many houses are really lacking closet space, so how do you organize your shoes?  </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">____________</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Tomorrow, I'll be back with a GIVEAWAY for 100 Minted Holiday cards!  So excited for this one! </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSGjAoUXpe84KSnfm1oAWJgVG1ce8nYFequxG9H_qfq0RlDUws1404Q7Xy9ZCdGCK2kUd8hOHghFoZ1uSpd5SMVFbWsoBasJpjxTiQkwqHkfTO8RGDo6MlKSMhJEW67i4qshxIHeE1KVg/s1600/Minted+Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSGjAoUXpe84KSnfm1oAWJgVG1ce8nYFequxG9H_qfq0RlDUws1404Q7Xy9ZCdGCK2kUd8hOHghFoZ1uSpd5SMVFbWsoBasJpjxTiQkwqHkfTO8RGDo6MlKSMhJEW67i4qshxIHeE1KVg/s1600/Minted+Giveaway.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">____________</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On Honey We're Healthy, you can read about <a href="http://bit.ly/1hrNkdU">Finishing the Year Healthy and Strong</a>. Tomorrow, I will be reporting my progress and sharing a healthy Tex-Mex Casserole with Egg Noodles.  I'm addicted to this meal lately.</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;">                                          ____________</span></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Have a great Monday!</span></div><br /></div><br />

Organized Shoes

Over the last year or so, I've been slowly editing the contents of  my closet  and rearranging things.  I've gotten rid of clothes I...

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